Auxiliary bed controlled switch for electric alarm clocks



Feb. 7, 1950 2,496,373

D. E. BELICH AUXILIARY BED CONTROLLED SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC ALARM CLOCKS Filed Dec. 8, 1945 L aNvsN'roE.

D/QN/ELEBEL c H &1 [1; MMMLM ATrpaNsvS Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUXILIARY BED CONTROLLED SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC ALARM CLOCKS Daniel E. Belich, West Allis, Wis.

Application December 8, 1945, Serial No. 633,681

8 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in automatic alarm mechanism.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a clock or other timing device with a low voltage alarm circuit having tim controlled means for closing the circuit at one point, and auxiliary means for utilizing the weight of the occupant of a bed to automatically close the circuit at another point, whereby an alarm will be sounded at the proper time if the bed is occupied, but not otherwise.

A further object is to provide an electric alarm clock operable on a relatively high voltage circuit, with alarm mechanism automatically operable on a low voltage circuit, controlled in part by the clock mechanism and in part by the weight of a person in th bed.

A further object is to provide means for utilizing the low voltage circuit to continuously sound an alarm for a prolonged period of time unless the circuit is automatically broken by relieving the bed of the weight of the occupant.

A further object is to provide inexpensive means for modifying an ordinary electric clock in such a manner as to eliminate its electromagnetic means for operating an alarm bell and substitute therefor low voltage electrical means for operating an alarm, subject to dual control by the clock mechanism and the weight of a person occupying the bed.

Further objects will be apparent from the description of the embodiment of my invention disclosed in the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bed and an associated electric alarm clock embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan diagram of the alarm clock mechanism, showing an associated suspensory switch in vertical section.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the mechanism for closing the alarm circuit at a point within the clock casing.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the means for closing the alarm circuit by contact of the bed controlled switch with the floor underneath the bed.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The clock casing l contains an electric clock ll of ordinary type operable on a 110 volt circuit supplied through any ordinary outlet when its conducting wires are plugged in, as indicated at H! in Figure l. Ordinarily such clocks are provided with an electro-magnetically operable bell, in said circuit, but I have substituted therefor, a low voltage electric buzzer or hell M, the operation of which is time-controlled in part by means associated with the hour hand of the clock, and also controlled in part by a pendant switch l5 supported from a bed spring 16 in a normal circuit breaking position. This switch is so constructed that when brought into contact with the floor it will be automatically adjusted to circuit closing position, and its normal proximity to the floor is such that even the weight of a small person on the bed spring will depress it sufliciently to allow the switch to contact the floor and close the circuit. Switch I5 is connected with the bed spring by the cord I1 and a metal hook l8 engageable with one of the wires IQ of a bed spring at any desired point.

As shown in Figure 2, the switch l5 has two terminals 20 and 2i mounted in a block 22 of insulating material. A conducting bar or plate 24 mounted on supporting insulation 25 in a cup-shaped member or receptacle 2B is loosely suspended from the insulating block 22 by studs 21 slidingly engaged in grooves 28 formed in said block. The member 26 is normally held by gravity with its studs 21 at the lower ends of the grooves 28. But when the bed spring is depressed suificiently, the member 26 may contact with the floor and continued downward movement of the spring will allow the block IE to continue to descend until the terminals 20 and 2| contact the plate or bar 24, thus closing at this point the-low-voltage circuit now to be described and which includes the bell, buzzer l4, chimes, or other alarm.

A transformer 30 has its primary connected with the leading in wires 3| and 32 of the clock H. Wire 3| is connected by tap wire 33 with the primary side of the transformer at 34. The return circuit of the transformer primary is through wire 36, cut out switch 31, flasher or interrupter 38 and wire 39 to wire 32 of the clock circuit.

The secondary of the transformer delivers current, preferably at six volts, through wire 40 to terminal 20 and through switch plate 24, terminal 2|, and wire 4| to the bell or buzzer l4, thence through wire 42 to a terminal 43 mounted on the clock frame with interposed insulation at 44. This terminal may be contacted by a yoke-shaped switch member 46 journaled at 41 in supporting brackets 48 and urged by torsion spring 49 to the right in Figure 3. The switch 46 carries a boss 50 which contacts the hub 5| of a slidable clock-driven timing gear wheel 52 which is rotated by the clock mechanism once every 12 hours, i. e. in accordance with the movement of the hour hand. The timing gear wheel 52 is mounted to slide on a shaft 53 which also supports a setting wheel 55 having teeth in mesh with a pinion 56 on a manually rotatable shaft 57 provided with an operating knob 58.

The tLning gear wheel has on its inner face an arcuate spacing projection 60 which-normally bears on the'outer face of the setting wheel 55 but is adapted to enter the setting wheel slot 62 once in every 12 hours, and temporarily allow the switch 46 to swing to the right in Figure 3 thereby closing the low-voltage circuit atrfi' through the wire 86, rheostat 61 and Wire '33.

If the low-voltage circuit is also closed by the switch plate 24 underneath the bed an alarm will be sounded by the buzzer or bell [4. It will continue to sound as long as both switches are closed,

but will cease to sound'as soon as the bed is relieved of the weight of the occupant. If the bed spring does not withdraw the terminals 28 and 2! from the plate 24, the alarm will continue to a metal cap 23, having an aperture through;

which the cord I! is passed, and provided with a retaining knot [1.

Any suitable timing switch mechanism'may be substituted for that disclosed in Figure 3; Various kinds of timing switch mechanismsare common in the art, and it will-be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is immaterialwhich one of these timing switches is employed to connect up the low-voltage circuit within a clock at the proper time as determined by the adjustment of the manually operable setting shaft 57.

The specific structure of the weight-controlled switch underneath the bed is also subject to considerable variation from that illustrated in the drawings, as will be readily understood by those skilled in this art, and while I prefer to use an electric clock which can be plugged into any ordinary light circuit and operated on the'voltage thereof, any other clock may be employed, and the transformer may have its primary separately plugged into a lighting circuit and its secondary connected with timing mechanism operatively connected with the clock, since both the timing switch and the weight-operated switch associated with the bed are included in a low-voltage circuit which may or may not be associated with a clock operating circuits. The use of switches and flexible cords more or less exposed makes it desirable-to use a. low-voltage circuit which will not impose any fire hazardson the assembly or the building in which it is installed.

I claim:

.1. The combination with a timing device, of a transformer, electrically operable means for sounding an alarm includedin the secondary circuit of the transformen-timecontrolled means associated with the timing device for connecting up the alarm -circuit at one point, and means as? depressed, said last mentioned means including a normally open electric switch suspendedfrom the bed spring in proximity to a relatively stationary object below the bed, said switch being adapted to be closed by pressure contact with said object.

2. The combination with an electric clock provided with means for connecting it with a lighting circuit outlet, of rai itrarisformer installed in the clock casing; 'alarm'inechanism also installed in said casing and operatively connected with the secondary of the transformer, and a set of switches connected in series in the secondary circuit of the transformer, one of said switches being operable by the clock mechanism and the *other comprising a weight operable switch prosociated with a-bed spring-for connecting up said tric clock provided'with-means for connecting it with a lighting circuitoutlet, of a transformer installed in the clock casingfalarm mechanism also installed in said casing andoperatively connected with the secondary of the transformer,

and a set of switches connected-in series in the secondary circuit .ofizhe transformer, .one of said switches being operable by the. clock mechanism and the other comprisingv a weight. operable .switch associated with the bed spring and .suspended therefrom in proximity tothe fioor, underneath.the-bed. I

.4. The combination inan electrical alarm'circuit,-of normally open switches connected in series andthe-closing' .of .bo'th'of which being requisite to the functioning of such circuit, one of said switches comprising'a circuit closer and a clockwork actuator therefor, and the other of said switches comprising a pair of relatively movable contacts, one. of which is provided with means for its suspension beneath a bed spring and the other of which is adapted to receive motion from the .floor beneath the bed spring when the bed spring is occupied.

5. Ina device of the character described, the combination with'an electrical alarm, of a circuit for the operation thereof including a pair of switches in series in such circuit, each of said switches comprising normally ..open contacts, a

clockwork mechanism operatively-connected with combination-with an electrical alarmaand awcircuit for the operation thereof including'a-source of'-energy',-of a pair of switchessconnectedinseries with said circuit, a time clock adjustably connected with one of said switches for-:the-closing thereof ataselected :hour, the-other switch comprising a pair of contactaa'dielectricsupport in-which'saidcontacts are mounted, admok for suspending. the dielectric support and contacts from the bed bottompand; acircuit; closer. mov able with respect to the dielectric-memberand normally in circuit opening positi0n;:-the p0sition of said hook respecting the circuit closer being such that the circuit closer will normally be supported clear of the floor beneath the bed bottom save when the bed is occupied and will engage such floor to close said last mentioned switch contacts when the bed is occupied.

'I. In a time-controlled electric alarm mechanism, a switch in the circuit of said mechanism and comprising normally open contacts in combination with a tension support comprising a hook for detachably suspending the switch from a bed spring in proximity to a relatively fixed switch operating member, one of the contacts of said switch being mounted for movement to and from the other contact thereof and downwardly disposed in position for closing said fixed switch when the bed spring is depressed.

8. A low voltage alarm circuit having a controlling switch comprising a gravity actuated member provided with terminals, a circuit closing member movably suspended below the terminals and downwardly disposed for circuit closing movement with respect to said terminals when the terminals are depressed below a predetermined normal position, and a member for suspending the circuit closing member.

DANIEL E. BELICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date 1,758,546 Wartmann May 13, 1930 1,957,390 Coogan May 1, 1934 2,249,645 Applegarth July 15, 1941 2,396,947 Gutteridge Mar. 19, 1946 

